Where Do We Go From Here…and, How Do We Get There

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV) 

Today’s blogpost is a continuation from our previous blogposts. To catch up, please read our previous blogposts, thanks!

During this time, I had a close friend daily walking alongside me in prayer. She is a hardcore prayer warrior and we all need some of them close by! One day she texted me and said, “God wants you to, be still and know He is God.” A few days later, a close friend (in another state and knew nothing of what as going on) texted me and said, “God wants you to be still and know He is God.” Peace rushed over me. God’s Word is alive and changes everything! (Hebrews 4:12) I encourage you to always speak scripture over your life! How great is the love the Father lavishes on us! I had always known God was working things together for my good, but the two texts just confirmed He was my Rock and my Shield! (Romans 4:27, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:28, Psalm 18:2)

As much as I didn’t want to choose the hotel option, we decided our next step would have to include a brief hotel stay. That short season reminded me of a previous season when we stayed in a hotel due to permitting issues on an apartment renovation on Maui when I was pregnant with my youngest and my middle child was a toddler. God delivered me out of that situation and I knew He would quickly deliver me out of the current situation. (Psalm 18:2)

Several close friends, very graciously offered for us to stay with them so we wouldnt have to stay in a hotel. But we decided, we shouldn’t create disarray in their homes just because our home was in disarray. 

I believe God had been preparing me over the last few years for where I was in this season. A few years ago, God had put it on my heart to store up treasures in Heaven. (Matthew 6:20) I started researching “minimalism". In a culture that screams, “More!”, “Bigger!”, “Better!”, my heart was yearning for the opposite.  

I found myself fed up.

• Fed up with all the “stuff" that really doesn't matter.
• Fed up with payments with the majority of our money being applied to interest. 
• Fed up with paying three times over in interest what I had paid for an item.
• Fed up with not really grasping what was truly important.
• Fed up with not being able to see the forrest for the trees.

I was convinced, there had to be a better way…a more simple way. A more peaceful way. A way that would free up our time and space to do more of what really mattered to us, in excellence.

Before coming to Alaska, we had major plans. We were going to lease a cabin for a time, buy a house (which would be our second home), buy a second vehicle, furnish the house (furniture as well as household goods since we already have a home in Hawaii). But in the previous months, my heart continued to cry out for the opposite. But what is the opposite? We had to have a house and a second vehicle…

or...

did we?

Please join us in our next blogpost as we share with you how God ordered our steps in a life changing direction into this exciting new season of our lives! (Proverbs 16:9)

My Daddy's House

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2 Corinthians 1:20, NKJV)

Yesterday we blogged about making the move into my Daddy’s house at the end of my junior year in highschool. Since then, I’ve been thinking about how all the things that became available to me immediately upon the move…had actually been available to me all along. All I had to do was "make the move”. 

His door had always been completely wide open to me; however, external factors held me back and kept me from making the move. I allowed familiarity and fear to keep me bound in captivity. But once I made the move, I asked myself…”Why oh why did I wait so long to move?"

Immediately moving in with my Daddy, I exchanged:

• pressure for peace
• fear for security
• offense for forgiveness
• strife and tension for laughter and joy

Just to name a few.

My Daddy was so loving, graceful, patient, kind and was so gentle in spirit. I am very blessed to have had as many years as I did with my Daddy. 

People have told me, “Yea…but my dad wasn’t like that.” 

I’m here to tell you today…

We have a perfect Heavenly Father “watching for us”. He is “filled with love and compassion" and He "quickly runs to meet us” ready to celebrate our return with everything good He has in His possession! (Luke 15, Hebrews 2:10-13, Psalm 50:10-12, 2 Corinthians 1:20)

Please don’t hesitate, all of God’s goodness is available to you immediately upon the move. Please don’t allow anything to hold you in captivity, all you have to do is "make the move”. (Romans 10:9) 

Move now….and let the party begin! (Isaiah 61:3, Luke 15:24)

Please make the following declaration out loud with me. Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree and declare Jesus is Lord! We believe in our hearts and we confess with our mouth that You, God, raised Jesus from the dead. Thank You for forgiving our sins and reconciling us to You! Thank You for the blood of Jesus! Thank You for Your Holy Spirit! Thank You for saving us! Father, please teach us how to walk in eternal life starting now, right at this moment, and please teach us daily how to walk in authority and to daily take what rightfully belongs to us! (John 10:10)

Please connect with a strong bible based church. You may also connect with solid teachings via live stream every Sunday at www.faithman.org and daily devotions at http://www.worshipandword.com

Welcome to our family! We are grateful you moved!

Romans 10:9

1 John 1:9

Hold Fast to Your Confession

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the [a] hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. (Hebrews 10:23, AMP)

All scripture is God breathed (Hebrews 10:23) God’s Word is alive, active, and eternal. (Hebrews 4:12, Luke 21:33) God sent His word. (Psalm 107:20) The Word is God. (John 1:1)

As we say what God said, refusing to waver, His living and active Word produces fruit! His Word accomplishes! And His Word prospers! (Isaiah 55:11)

As we confess (speak), we are quite literally speaking…Jesus! 

What are you saying today?

Free Upgrade

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. (Psalm 37:23, NLT)

I believe everything good, no matter how great or how small, all good things come by no accident or by luck, but directly from God. (James 1:17)

As many of you know, we are currently traveling. Due to a family situation, we had to buy airline tickets at last minute. As a result, we weren't able to assign our seats where we could sit together. Our seats were strung out from the front of the plane to the back of it. We were told we would have to pay extra in order to sit together.

We checked our bags and asked for seats together but the agent wasn't able to assign seats. She told us if we want to sit together we would have to speak with the gate agent. We didn't want to wait because the closer to flight time generally means fewer arrangements can be made and or changed.

Thankfully, the gate agent was able to seat us together.

When we boarded the plane, I was blessed to see, we had been given a free upgrade to business class on a very new, very comfortable plane.

This may not seem like much of a big deal to some but for me, given our current circumstance, it was just God's way of confirming...I am in every. single. little. detail.

Father, You are a good God and only good things come from You. Thank You for our free upgrade but most of all, thank You for
confirming what was spoken over us in that we would experience many, many great and mighty things both in the seemingly small as well as the overwhelmingly big matters we are walking out this week. Thank You for being my unfailing perfect Father. I love You LORD.

The Rock

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (Psalm 18:2, NLT)

This morning I woke up with a song on my heart.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!
All other ground is sinking sand.

In the nineties, I lived in Alaska. I didn't yet understand Alaska weather and never fathomed the amount of ice and snow I was about to encounter. I didn't have an Alaska car. I drove a cute, little, red, 5 speed on the floor, sports car.

And then...winter came. And when winter came. Oh. My. Goodness.

My transmission consistently froze up and was very difficult to shift. One night, after working really late and while leaving work, my car slowly slid around in the parking and the front bumper of my car lodged up against a large rock. The rock was half as tall as my car. I had slid so slowly that there was no damage to my car. All I needed to do was put my car in reverse, back up, turn around, and drive home.

It was cold. It was dark. It was an area where a half dozen moose could be seen every day. Did you know, moose can be very angry creatures? The news had just reported a woman had been mauled by a bear. I was tired. I hadn't lived there long enough to know anyone to call for help. My transmission was frozen and would not go in reverse. I had all gears...except reverse.

I felt so desperate. I walked around my car looking for a way to push it away from the rock so I could drive forward and go home. I had dress boots on and kept slipping on the ice and snow. I pushed and slid and slid and pushed. The parking lot was empty. I was alone. I got back in my car and with all my strength, I could not force the gear into reverse.

I repeated this scenario many times until I was in tears. I said, "God, what am I going to do?"

I walked around my car again, put one of my feet on the ground (The same ice and snow was still there. And I was still wearing the same slippery boots.) and one foot on the big rock. I gently pushed my car and almost effortlessly moved the car enough to drive it forward and go home.

The Lord spoke to me and said, "See what you can do when your foot is on The Rock?"

Every condition was the same, except, I cried out to God for help. I was really young in the Lord at that time. It was a life changing moment for me. In the cold, dark, icy parking lot, where there were real possibilities of threats, feeling desperate and being alone, after I had tried and tried in my own strength, trying to force the gears, scared from news reports, and having no one to call, God showed me:

He is:

• My Rock!
• My fortress!
• My Savior!
• He is my Shield!
• The Power that saves me!
• My place of safety! (Psalm 18:2, NLT)

He did His part and He enabled me to do my part. (James 2:17 and 2 Corinthians 1:21)

When:

• Life seems cold and dark.
• You've heard the threats, tried with all your strength, and have been slipping.
• You are tired, have no one to call, and you feel desperate.
• An obstacle in your life seems frozen.
• You haven't been able to back up and turn around.

Ask Him what to do. (Matthew 7:7)
He will show you. (Jeremiah 33:3)
Do what He shows you. (James 1:22)
Keep your "foot on The Rock". (Psalm 18:2)

He does it for me, He'll do it for you! (Romans 2:11)

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!
All other ground is sinking sand.

My prayer for every reader today is to keep our foot on the Rock and come into the knowing that He is the Power that saves us! He is our place of Safety! I declare all negative situations for every reader today be reversed in the name of Jesus! For it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit! And I declare 2013 to be your best year ever in all areas of your life, in the name of Jesus!

(Psalm 18:2, Job 22:28, Zechariah 4:6, John 14:14)

Please speak this out loud and make this your confession! (Mark 11:23, Matthew 23:37)

I keep my foot on the Rock! I know that I know You, God, are the Power that saves me! You are my place of safety! I thank You, Father, that every negative situation in my life is reversed, in the name of Jesus! It is not by my might, nor by my power but by Your Spirit! I believe and receive, 2013 to be my best year ever in every area of my life, in the name of Jesus! I thank You for it Father, You are good and your mercy endures forever! Thank You for working all things out for my good, I love You Lord!

Merry Christmas, 2012!

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ The Lord. (Luke 2:11, NKJV)

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13, NKJV)


The greatest gift of all!
MERRY CHRISTMAS from our home to yours!

Our prayer for you today is for you to have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is! (Ephesians 3:18)

Every Morning!

Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on Your altar and watch for fire to descend. (Psalm 5:3, MSG)

Have you ever noticed how much harder the gym is the morning after eating fried food and a heavy dessert?

When I eat "clean" (lean meats, fresh fruits, berries, seeds, fresh veges) I hardly miss a beat hitting the gym the next morning. But when we go to a party, eat fried food and a heavy dessert, it takes me longer to get in the swing of it the next morning at the gym.

Our mind can be the same way. Letting sinful nature control the mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control the mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6) It is easier to keep the mind clean than it is to clean it up after getting "dirtied".

I go to the gym around 6:00 a.m. because generally it is very quiet that time of day. But during the busy seasons there are a few gym goers. I'm amazed at what people will watch (fill their hearts and minds with) on t.v. at 6:00 a.m.

Yesterday morning, I was alone in the gym when a lady came in and turned on the t.v. to some sort of drama. There's a reason there is a movie genre labeled, "dramas". A word to the wise, avoid all drama. Many have asked, "Well then Genice, what DO you watch on television?" I always say, "Not much."

The drama was a series about a mental ward. Some of the scenes were very ugly. I was thankful I didn't have my girls with me. And I was thankful I couldn't hear the t.v. over the music on my ipod because I'm sure the sounds would've only added to the creepiness. The t.v. was directly in front of the elliptical (where I was) so I mostly stared out the window which was on my right until my neck got tired then I closed my eyes facing forward to give my neck a rest. I considered asking her to change the channel and if I'd had my girls with me, I would have. But I thought, hey...just let the woman workout to her show and I tried to avoid the t.v.

I'm not sure about everyone else, but what I do early in the morning sets the pace for the rest of my day.

Even though I had already filled my heart with godly things prior to going to the gym, for the rest of the day I "fought" the images from the t.v. show that kept popping into my mind. There was only three but they were extremely gross.

Do you think other gym goers would see it as odd if I wore a sleep mask on the elliptical? Don't be concerned that was a facetious-itical question. *grin*

My prayer for every reader today is to fill themselves full to the overflow of God's Word the very first thing every morning! To dig in scripture and ask God, what do You want me meditating on today? To lay out the pieces of their lives on Your altar and watch for fire to descend! I ask all these things in the name of Your precious Son, King Jesus! (John 14:14)

Say What?!!

Generally, when someone comes to me for prayer, it is a result of an issue they are struggling with over something someone has said. Or over something someone hasn't said.

"Mom told me I have a big head."
"When I was 9, Dad told me I am lazy."
"My third grade teacher said I would never amount to anything." 

If that's you, I have GOOD news for you! What God said about you overrides everything  everyone else has ever or will ever say! 

• If you are in Christ, you are new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• You can do all things! (Philippians 4:13)
• You are an overcomer! (1 John 5:4)

But wait, there's more!

• He is for you! (Romans 8:31)
• He will never leave you! (Hebrews 13:5)
• He is your strong tower, your shelter! (Psalm 61:3)

If you are asking, "But wait a minute, if all these things are true, then why have bad things happened to me?"

• There is a robber, killer, and destroyer. (John 10:10)
• You have an enemy. (1 Peter 5:8)
• The "someones" in your life, are not the core issue. (Ephesians 6:12)

But, God has set you up for success! He has empowered you!

• Don't worry! (Matthew 6:34) 
• God has a good plan! (Jeremiah 29:11)
• Jesus has given you authority! (Luke 10:19) 

If you are asking, "But how do I apply His Word and change my life from what it is to what God said it is?"

Here's how:

• Receive by faith believing without wavering!  (James 1:6)
• Take every thought captive! (2 Corinthians 10:5)
• Meditate on His Word! (Psalm 19:14)
• Guard your heart with all vigilance!  (Proverbs 4:23)
• Only speak life! (Proverbs 18:21)

Take what God said about you (His Word) and override what everyone else has said or failed to say.

Now, what are you going to say?

Submission, Obedience and Authority, Oh My!

“For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Luke 7:8, NKJV)

Submission: Ahhh…there’s that lovely word that some cringe at the sound of! 

Submission defined is: The action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.

Obedience defined is: Compliance with someone's wishes or orders or acknowledgment of their authority.

A quick disclaimer: 

Let’s not go off the deep end with this. Let’s all operate in wisdom. If an authority figure is telling us to do something illegal, immoral, or unethical, obviously we don’t do it because God is our final authority.

A recent Facebook post from a close personal friend set my brain to some very deep thinking.

“When someone asks what exactly I do at WOW (Walk on Water Faith Church, www.faithman.org) I always respond, "Whatever Pastor Loretta asks me to do." Why? Because that is what I am called to do even if it is outside my comfort zone or my known gifting. God will equip me for whatever I am asked to do AND prosper it because I simply obeyed. Hopefully this will help more of you find your place in the Kingdom of God.” Gwen Payne

I am the president of our family owned business. Being in that position of authority has taught me about submission. We have five locations on four different Hawaiian Islands. We have over a dozen employees. Over the past several years, the employees at our business have been indirectly teaching me about submission to authority. I ask them to do something and they do it. I say, “Will you please _____fill in the blank_____?” And they immediately respond with, “Yes”. They don’t quiz or ask for full disclosure before doing what I ask. Sometimes, they don’t agree with me. But I make decisions from a different vantage point. I am privy to information they are not always privy to. We are blessed with the best crew God has available. I would walk through the fire with any one of them. They are phenomenal group of individuals and we are very grateful for each of them. I am especially grateful to them for teaching me this lesson on authority.

I equate my position of authority in our company much in the same way as my pastor’s position of authority at church. I am learning how to submit to his authority on a new level. I am learning how to submit to his authority on a deeper level, not because he is perfect but because my attitude in submitting to his authority is directly linked to my obedience to God.

Our pastors may not always do everything exactly how we would like to see them done. Nor will they always take the church in the direction we would like to see it go. Doing what God has called them to do isn’t a power trip and a lot of the time they make decisions that are not even remotely fun. Oftentimes, they are called to do what is very difficult and must be obedient to God’s prompting. God didn’t call me to pastor. He has called me to be obedient to His Word.

"God will equip me for whatever I am asked to do AND prosper it because I simply obeyed." Gwen Payne 

We would love to hear from you! 

Tell us, what have you learned about submission?

Our Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)

My girls are on swim team and we are right in the middle of swim season. It has been an exciting season!

Our team has an amazing coach. He is the perfect balance between fun, encouragement, perseverance, and discipline. We go to practice three times per week. Coach is on the pool deck where he has a higher vantage point and he can see the areas my girls need to work on and improve. During practice, Coach encourages them to practice their stroke, perfect their skill, build strength and endurance.

In between practices, we are in our pool, daily. Mike and I encourage our girls to listen closely to what Coach tells them and to swim according to his instruction. 

Their team uniform is sleek, high speed, low drag. They also wear a swim cap. No jewelry, etc is allowed because they don't wear anything that will weigh them down. 

One of the most moving things I've ever seen is their teammates standing on the pool deck screaming their names and cheering them on to finish! They scream, "Go! Go!" and "You can do this!" They start screaming as soon as the buzzer sounds and they don't stop screaming until after they help them out of the water. And then, they hug them, pat their backs, and tell them how great they swam. Even when they don't swim perfectly. 

Race day is not instruction day. Race day is not the time and place for practicing, building, or perfecting. When race day comes, there is no time for instruction. Race day is the result of everything they've done (or not done) in the days prior to the race. We are all there to cheer them on. But the one who swims the race, is Mikea and Gracie. They stand alone at the lane they are assigned. They alone cross the finish line. 

Our lives are much like swim team. For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT) God is our Ultimate Coach! He gifts us apostles, prophets, evangelists,  pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11, NLT). They are gifts from God and should be treated accordingly. God placed them in our lives to help us practice, perfect, and build us up. We are surrounded by huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith. And we are surrounded by amazing friends! Both stand on the sidelines of our lives and cheer us on until our race is finished! They all hold our feet to the fire and expect us to hold tight to His instruction! Everything we do (and don't do) contributes to how we run our race. We must train daily according to His Word, strip off every weight, consciously refuse to be weighed down, and run our race with endurance! 

Snippets

Behold, I give you all authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you. (Luke 10:19, NKJV)

I read something today that tempted me to get irritated. Please don't fall for stuff like the following snippet...it totally undermines the wonderful goodness of God.

"If you are going through something difficult, it's because God is preparing you for something great!”

There is one reason we go through something difficult. John 10:10 & Psalm 34:19.

However, the end result for us is the end of John 10:10 and Psalm 34:19 and that is this "But I have come to give you life in excessive abundance" and  "But God delivers us out of them all".

And by the way, God is ALWAYS preparing us for something great! Because He is great! He doesn't have to drag us through difficulties (Isaiah 5:20) to prepare us for greatness (2 Corinthians 2:14). 

Another popular one is, "Everything happens for a reason." I can almost hear the long drawn out sigh before and after that statement. 

Dr. Bill Hanshew addresses that very well. You can find his response at the link. 

http://www.cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13758:everything-happens-for-a-reason&catid=48:leadership-&Itemid=67

The point I'm trying to make is this...instead of putting our confidence in a not so cutesy saying, let's put our confidence in God's Word! (Hebrews 4:12), believe everything God said (Mark 11:22), and walk in our authority (Luke 10:19).

A Rant, Grrrr!

Facebook rants seem popular these days. The ones I find especially lacking are the ones directed toward people who do not have access to the ranting person's Facebook; for example, "Dear drivers on my way home." Huh? And "duck lips". I won't even go there. And political arguments...2 Chronicles 7:14. I'm not saying we should be ignorant in politics (or anything else) but there is only One who can heal this great nation and that is not Facebook. 

I have much more to say about Facebook rants; however, God's Word says it better than I ever could so I will leave it to Him. 

The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. (Psalms 24:1)

The earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 10:26) Personally, I believe that includes technology. 

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (Proverbs 18:21)

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17)

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Meditate Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8, NLT)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (Deuteronomy 30:19)

What's on your Faceboook?

How Do We Do That?

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  (James 1:22, NLT)

So many times when someone asks me for help, I give them scripture and they finish the scripture before I do. 

Many know scripture; however, 
many do not know how to apply scripture. 

They say, “Genice, I know scripture. I can quote scripture all day long. But I’ve never been taught how to apply scripture to my everyday life.”

In order to learn how to apply God's Word on a practical level, we go to the basics, and build on a strong foundation.

Operating according Matthew 6:33, "Seek first His kingdom". When we seek Him first, which is dedicating every aspect of our lives to Him first, (relationships, finances, health, etc) so many issues resolve themselves. So many things just fall right into place

Seek Him first. 
How do we do that? 

Luke 10:27 gives us our command in very basic terms. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.

To condense that, love our Lord with our all.

And we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Which brings the question, how do you love yourself? 

What is your opinion of you?

Loving God and our neighbor as we've been commanded.
How do we do that? 

We walk in the Spirit not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. 
How do we do that?

By renewing our minds daily
Some days daily is once a day. 
Some days daily is all day long. 

He gave His Word TO us FOR us so,

 wisdom says take full advantage of His life giving Word!

Then we take all the above and tie it together with prayer! (1 Thess 5:17)

• Seek Him first
• Love
• Live in His Word
• Pray

Please Believe Me

Jesus said  "Only believe." (Luke 8:50)

I am very blessed with many friends and family members in the medical profession. Medical science is fascinating. What God designed the human body to do is beyond astounding. 

When a person decides to go into the medical field, they must first receive instruction. They sit under the training of a professor according to the book, they do their internship according to the book and then they perform their duties according to the book. 

My question is this. What if they consistently refused to believe what is in the book? What if, when their professor taught a subject, they argued against the teaching and refused to believe what's in the book? What if they went to lunch with their friends after class to argue what aspects of the book they just couldn't believe? What if they consistently refused to perform their internship duties according to the book offering up such statements such as, "I just don't know if I can believe all that stuff in the book." What if they attempted to perform their duties on the job refusing to operate according to the book with their reasoning being they just cannot believe everything that's in the book. In spite of research, statistics, success stories, history, etc. 

My friends and family would say, "They wouldn't be in the medical profession very long if at all."

Even if they were, in an emergency situation (or any situation) would we want this person administering medical attention on our behalf or on the behalf of our children? I'm very confident the answer to that is no. 

Jesus said, "Only believe." Believe what? Believe everything in His Word.

Believe He is and He is a rewarder. (Hebrews 11:6)

Believe all scripture is God breathed. (2Timothy 3:16)

Believe God cannot lie. (Hebrews 6:18)

Believe God's Word is everything He says it is! Alive! Powerful! (Hebrews 4:12)

Since we believe God's Word regarding salvation, literally eternally saving us from Hell, it is just as easy to believe everything else in His Word including but not limited to, healing, prosperity, tithing, a victorious life. In other words, perfect peace. How can we believe His Word for salvation but not for every other promise? 

Also, I'd really like to establish a concrete foundational issue. We are not begging God to move on our behalf. God is a loving Father who delights in the prosperity of His servant. (Psalm 35:27)  He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3) God is always good. (John 10:10) Nothing and no one ever dilutes the wonderful goodness of God. He never changes.  (Malachi 3:6)  Bitter and sweet cannot flow from the same fountain. (James 3:11)

As born again believers, we are students of His Word. He has set before us professors. (Ephesians 4:11-16) 

Jesus said, "Only believe." I believe He said only as to be so full of belief in every aspect of The Word there is no room for any doubt, not even an ounce. 

This morning I read another version of this scripture. Instead of "Only believe" it says "Just have faith." How much faith (or confidence) do we desire our family, friends and especially our children to have in us? How much faith do we put in complete strangers when a medical emergency arises? How much more faith can we have in our perfect Father and His Word?

I've heard Joyce Meyer say, "We all believe in something, may as well be something good."

What do you believe? 

Provision

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

My husband, Mike, does the majority of the shopping for our household. Our girls always want to go shopping with Daddy. They know if they go shopping with Dad, they leave the store with their own pack of gum.

Our girls have often asked, "If I am good, will you buy me gum?" His response, "No I will buy you gum because I love you, I know you like gum, and I want to bless you." Buying them gum isn't about what they do but is about who he is.

Our girls know who their father is and they know good things come from him. They have never questioned his existence or his ability to provide. They know, based on experience, that he consistently gives them good gifts. They also know how to position themselves to receive from him by having complete faith in him to provide. 

Mike operates in these principles with our girls because he has learned these principles from his Heavenly Father. He knows who his Father is. He believes God is and believes He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God blesses us, not because of what we do but because of who He is!

Do you know the Father?
Do you believe He is?
Do you believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him?

Many know The Father. Many believe He is. Many believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. But some struggle with His provision for them personally. Take a step of faith today. His provision is not based on what you do but who He is. Dig into His promises in His wonderful Word and just believe!

Who Cares?

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6 & 7, NKJV)

Cast:

• To throw 
• To throw with force; hurl
• To shed; molt.
• To throw forth; drop
• To throw on the ground, as in wrestling
• To deposit or indicate 
• To turn or direct
• To cause to fall onto or over something or in a certain direction, as if by throwing
• To bestow; confer

Care:

• Watchful oversight
• Charge or supervision
• Attentive assistance
• To provide needed assistance or watchful supervision

He cares for us as in He loves us. 

He cares for us as in, He is a loving Father.

How do we care for our children? 

Knowing that, how much more does He care for us!

He provides our every need! (Phil. 4:9) 

Who cares? HE CARES!